From the lights to the pavement

Early Sunsets

This will probably be shocking. The point is this first chapter is short and was written just after i finished gcse because of all the free time. So while i am away from home its likely that i will write more, hopefully better, chapters
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There was only ever that one strip of light in the room. A basement as a room was a perfect haven for an artist who wished to remain away from real life though to others it's likely to have seemed more along the lines of being peculiar; it could have been thought of as quite weird. For Gerard it was everyday life. Waking up, making coffee, drawing, the occasional decision to try write new music (which usually was just additions to the song he'd started at an earlier point in the year), always in the same room, always inside. That was the way he liked it.
Gerard lived at home with his parents and brother and that was the way life was. His art was all that really mattered, he'd tried music once but it didn't last because he couldn't play that one part of Sweet Home Alabama and apparently if you can't play that you can't play anything.

Today was the same as always, Gerard woke up and went up to the kitchen to go make coffee. The bitter yet sweet smell of coffee was perfect for a morning; the harsh taste was his favourite thing to wake up. "Mikes? You want coffee?" He shouted, pausing and looking towards the ceiling as he waited for a response. Usually this was the point that Mikey would shout back either that he indeed wanted coffee or that Gerard should shut up because he was trying to sleep and didn't wish to be interrupted. He prepared to shout again but was quickly interrupted by his brother appearing at his side; his hair was messy and in his face with glasses slightly wonky as per usual for morning Mikey. "Yes, coffee. Yes, i'm already up and awake don't ask." Gerard nodded, pushing his rather greasy black hair back from his face as he started making his first of many coffees that would be consumed through the day. Quietly Gerard hummed black coffee by Black Flag to which Mikey mumbled something about how that wasn't funny anymore and only worked the first time.

Soon Gerard returned to his sanctuary, sipping his coffee and cursing as it burnt his mouth.
~
Mikey wasn't one to remain in his room as his brother did and preferred playing bass to doing art. He was used to Gerard remaining home in his room so often, that was just Gerard being Gerard and he didn't say anything about it.

As Mikey sat in a local coffee shop he wondered what his brother would be working on today and whether he was gonna get a phone call asking for him to go buy more cigarettes before he came home. When Gerard was drawing the extent of walking he would do was walking to the kitchen for coffee though sometimes the coffee maker would end up in his room until someone took it back.

He moved this thought to the back of his mind as he sipped his coffee and watched as a guy with rather big hair arrived in the small shop and sat down by him. This was Ray Toro, the man with the plan, the master of guitar. Ray was a casual friend of both Mikey and Gerard's but to Ray, Gerard was just "the kid who liked to draw comic books" and that was okay because though he didn't see him often he was still a friend because friends don't need to see each other all the time.

"How's the other Way doing?" Ray asked as he sat with Mikey and they discussed things they'd done since they last met and in the process planned that they would go to some local shows to bring more interest to their lives over the next few weeks. After making plans and drinking excessive amounts of coffee the two went back to the Way residence to have what they often referred to as a jamming session for which they'd play some music, mess about and really just do what they loved.

Mikey looked around the home, trying to find Gerard's guitar which was usually abandoned somewhere at random.
~
When Mikey left, Gerard added to his piles of both finished and unfinished art work as usual but decided it was time to try something new. He went upstairs, finding his old rather battered stratocaster left leaning against an arm chair and quickly took it back to his room.

He looked at it for a while before trying to play anything and when he did it was a few power chords that resembled the basic structure of Ziggy Stardust for which Gerard was proud of himself. He decided it was about time to try finish the song he'd been working on for so long even if only he himself would ever hear it, he didn't mind that, just the thought of writing a song made him happy. And as hours passed of him attempting to work out what would fit what he had come up with he sat playing chords, occasionally lighting a cigarette, being content with what he created.

There was a knock at Gerard's bedroom door, it took him by surprise causing him to catch his hand on his lighter as lit a new cigarette. "Come in?" He looked over towards the door, holding his cigarette in his mouth as he spoke. His rather scrawny brother entered "Ray's here and I wondered if he could borrow your guitar...oh and we're going to see a local show tonight if you wanna join us" Mikey proclaimed as he looked around eventually standing only a short distance from his older brother. Gerard passed him the guitar "yeah, Ray can use it and yeah, I think I will come with you; it's been a while" he smiled softly and got up starting to rummage around his room for clothes to wear as Mikey returned to Ray. Gerard spent his days usually in a random shirt with star wars pyjama pants so when he changed to go outside he didn't really care what he looked like. He rummaged the floor grabbing some baggy jeans and a slightly over sized tatty iron maiden shirt, more or less throwing them on before he grabbed his one leather jacket that had a few rips in. To Gerard the rips made the jacket seem more lived in and reminded him of characters from comics that had been in a battle and got a little battered but still looked fucking awesome. Mikey had told him he should probably cover the rips with patches or get a new jacket but he always refused and let it be.
~
Gerard, Mikey and Ray all gathered in the living room. Prior to leaving his basement haven, Gerard had a drink or too as it seemed lately that was the best way to make him have the confidence required to be around others (specifically large groups who may wish to interact).
The venue was a walkable distance from the way residence and though this was not necessarily safe Gerard was intoxicated and Mikey and Ray insisted the outdoors would be beneficial. Walking to shows was always peculiar, the way more people from the scene would be noticeable the closer you walked to the venue after long periods of the local scene seeming none existent. To Gerard it was wonderful, all these people who would happily discuss their interests in music for hours without hesitation. That's how time passed quickly in the queue, individuals who had never met discussing who they were waiting for and how much a particular thing that seemed so simple was of great importance to them.